As a new school year gets underway, Becker Farms in Gasport is welcoming students, educators, and families back to the orchard with its Apple School: Group Educational Tours, beginning today and running weekdays throughout the fall season. The curated, hands-on tours introduce students to Western New York’s rich agricultural heritage while giving every participant the opportunity to pick apples and/or pumpkins.
Designed to inspire curiosity and connect classroom learning with the outdoors, Becker Farms Apple School Tours offer an engaging agricultural education experience for groups of all ages — from daycare and elementary students to high school and college learners. Guests explore the farm’s history, observe the daily operations of a working farm, and gain a better understanding of how food is grown and cultivated. Tours are led by Becker Farms co-owner Mindy Vizcarra and provide an immersive farm experience that complements New York State standards in Science, Math, Social Studies, and Language Arts.
During the approximately 90-minute experience, students will:
• Enjoy and educational talk on the history of the farm and apples inside the original 150 year-old barn.
• Take a wagon ride through the working farm
• Pick apples and/or pumpkins
• Feed and interact with goats, sheep, and other barnyard animals
• Explore the farm’s playground
• Enjoy lunch at the farm.
“Every year we welcome schools and families to our farm to experience firsthand where their food comes from,” said Andres Vizcarra, fifth-generation family member. “It’s a tradition that is both educational and memorable — giving students the opportunity to learn about agriculture while making meaningful connections with nature and their community.”
Tour Details:
Private group tours: $12 per person
Minimum: 12 students ($144)
Maximum: 150 students
Includes: Apple or pumpkin picking ($15 per person for both)
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
Advance booking: Required with at least 24 hours’ notice
For more information or to book a tour, visit www.beckerfarms.com/schooltours, call 772-2211 or email cu*************************@***il.com.
